From Our Clients

Our family came to Kay Tutoring, on the recommendation of a friend, rather late in the ACT preparation game. Andrea took an insightful look at my son's previous scores, had a perceptive conversation with him, and suggested a plan of action that could be concentrated for maximum impact. She gained my son's trust and affection and so did Kristen, who became his tutor - inspiring his motivation and best efforts in addition to teaching a focused set of skills. In the end, he surprised himself by getting a perfect score in the area on which they focused and raising his overall score from 30 to 32. It was a tremendous experience, not merely in terms of the final score, but in the value of deciding to try a bit harder and stretching beyond where you think you can reach. We are grateful to Kay Tutoring!
- Krista Tippett, parent of a senior at Central High School in St. Paul

Hi Sarah. Our son wrote a response paper to a film he watched in honors writer’s workshop. It was outstanding and he received no help. It's amazing how much you taught him. He was not really able to write a paragraph before and now he writes college level papers. For a kid with a writing disability, this skill is a life changer. Thank you!
- Parent of a Junior at Hopkins

Andrea, Thank you so much for your expertise with Charlotte’s application to Amherst. I remember the first time we met, and my impression of you was that you expect excellence and you love to learn. I have been so impressed with your and your team’s dedication and attention to detail. No wonder you are very successful! I will contact you soon to get going with my son Jake in the 9th grade!
- Parent of Senior at Blake

Regardless of their results, I can’t tell you how much we appreciate you! You approach of genuine concern for our kids with advice on all things necessary to succeed is so impressive. We are very glad that we brought your team into our lives to help the kids prep for college entrance!
- Parent of Sophomore and Junior at Maple Grove High School

Sandra is on Cloud 9. She was accepted, early decision, and they even gave her some academic scholarship $$ 😃! All of your work with college essays (Sarah and you are an amazing team) was a huge help and the scholarship money (ACT tutoring with your tutors directly led to merit money) was a major confidence booster. She was so excited that somebody valued her scholastic ability so much as to pay her for it!! Yay!!!! Thank you!!!!
- Parent of a Senior at Heritage Christian Academy. Name changed to protect confidentiality.

You were a wealth of knowledge and spoke with Jamie in such a supportive manner. I was happy to see how comfortable she was with you and her ease to open up (not typical for her). You did a fantastic job breaking down the plan in a very detailed and useable style. I'm certain results will be apparent very soon.....Jamie already implementing changes 😀. I also appreciate the parental support......I so needed that!!
Looking so forward to working with you throughout the high school years. I know you will be such an inspiration and support for both of our children.
- Parent of Breck student

You are AMAZING and a sweetheart and probably the best thing that's happened to Melissa (and me!!) in a long time!!!😊😊😊 It is SO appreciated!! You definitely chose the right career...you are fabulous at what you do in every way!!!!!!! Have a great rest of your weekend!
- Parent of Blake sophomore. Name of student changed to protect client’s privacy.

Hi Andrea,

We just LOVE working with Christina for Spanish. She is just the best! She is always extremely prepared for her sessions, she knows her subject so well, and she also inspires our daughter to go even further than she thought she could with her Spanish. We are so lucky to have found both of you."
- Parent of Blake High School Junior

Hi Andrea! We are so thrilled with Katie's final [college essay] products. Thank you so much for what you and Suzanne do!! Katie is greatly relieved to have such a fantastic application to present to *****. Now she can even do so even ahead of the Early Decision deadline. What a relief to have some of the stress subsiding for a bit! You're the best!
- Parent of Blake High School Senior. Name of college & name of student changed to protect client's privacy.

Hi Andrea,

Just came across Sonia's act essay score and she scored a whopping 11 out of 12. Wow, I am so pleased how far she has come and really thank you from my bottom of heart. Keep up the great work you are doing. You see your results; well done to you too.
- Parent of Blake High School Senior. Name of student changed to protect client's privacy.

Hi Andrea,

Thank you for checking in. Todd is working out really well. I feel he knows the material (geometry, algebra and honors chemistry) well. We all like him and feel fortunate that he's available to help [both of our children]."
- Parent of Blake High School Sophomore

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wisdom, guidance, and reassurance for my son and me. It was wonderful to see you congratulating him for the great strides he's made in his last semester in your ever so upbeat, honest and encouraging way. It meant a lot to him to hear that-gave him some hope-he was getting discouraged that he still was falling short. I admire your gentle and concerned reminder to mom to relax too and instead try to reassure an already anxious, hardworking, over-achieving type-A boy who already puts a lot of pressure on himself even if that means emailing you with my "stuff." I admire your caring, honest appraisal and guts to share your impression with me knowing that the child's best interests will be served by doing so--something that must be a bit tricky when confronted with a chronically stressed out and perhaps over-involved mom. You are truly following your mission in life. We are grateful, humbled and honored that you are working with our son on this crucial juncture in his life!"
- Parent of Blake Student

I highly recommend Andrea Kay and Payman from Kay Tutoring. They specialize in academic tutoring, test prep, and college counseling. They are excellent!!!!! After 2 sessions they found our daughters learning disability to be holding her back and structured the sessions around her learning style to achieve the best success possible. With their help we were able to get longer testing time. They design their sessions around the areas students need help in, and they are creative in helping each student to achieve a higher score. They were a blessing for our family.
-Parent of Edina High School Senior

Thank you so very much for all the work you did with our son. I know the essays will have a major impact on his application. Thank you also for always keeping me in the loop. Your approach with him was great and I enjoyed watching you two work! I will definitely pass your name onto his friends and teammates. Thank you again!!
-Parent of Edina High School Senior

Something very cool happened last week. The TA handed back our essays and then handed out a sample essay to the class. She said the sample was a good example of how to write our formal paper. As I started to read the sample essay, I freaked out because the first line was the same as mine. As I read on I realized it was my essay!!!!! I couldn't believe it!!!! She took my name off the essay so no one in the class knew it was mine, thank God! I attribute MUCH of this to you and what you have taught me- I mean this sincerely. I am doing my best to use transition words - and I finally was able to use "moreover" - correctly in my essay - woohoo! (One of your favorites, if I recall correctly.) I still have a long way to go as far as improving my writing, but that gave me some confidence! (There are 85 people in our class.) I am telling you this not to brag about my essay, but to say thank you! Last year, I HATED writing, but you helped me get through it. This year, I am starting to like it. I think if I keep going as I get better, I will really like it.
-Kaia (University of MN Junior who received overall writing tutoring)

Thank you so much, Andrea!! You have tutored and mentored our daughter in many ways: about the SAT and lots of life lessons. She really enjoyed the time she spent with you. Shawn and I are very grateful. I am sure she rocked her latest SAT. We will let you know.
-Parent of Blake Junior

Andrea, he is benefiting so much from your help. I can see it in his level of relief and confidence and also the reduction in his stress. So thank you!
-Parent of current St. Louis Park Senior

When we think about how to be good parents, we only have two rules:

1. Always tell the truth so she'll believe us when it counts.
2. Always do what you say.

We told our daughter we would find her The Best tutor for her...And we did! You're the best, Andrea. Thank you so much!
-Parent of long-distance Skype student, a high school student in the Bay Area

Hi Andrea, Thank you for the wonderful tutoring assistance you gave our daughter. She enjoyed working with you and always looked forward to seeing you.
-Parent of Blake Junior, Wayzata, MN

Thanks, again, for all your work. Our son was feeling pretty good about his progress after seeing you on Saturday. It was SO great to finally hear him speak positively about the work he has put in with you. We really appreciate you helping open his eyes and to begin to start 'seeing the light'! He read me his essay on the way home Saturday and felt proud of his efforts. It just made me feel so good about how he felt about himself. He's a smart kid and this is really helping him see that he has so much to offer. I can't tell you how great this makes us feel! He finally really thinks his scores will improve and he now is feeling like he is getting closer to being able to score his goal of **+ for next test. He even made reference to be able to take the December test as a back up! Wow.
-Parent of Senior at Woodbury High School

I am so grateful I met you - my true intention is to learn and grow - and I so appreciate all your efforts in helping me to get to that place.
-Student at Inver Hills Community College who is planning to transfer to the University of MN

Andrea,

Thanks for the input and for all that you do.
Olivia enjoys working with you and we can tell she is following your recommendations -- and getting down to business!
-Parent of student at St. Mary's in Oakland, CA (August 2012)

Hi Andrea,

Thanks so much for your lovely email. We adore you, too, and will miss seeing you regularly. I know Lee thinks of you as more of a mentor/older sister figure and will miss you. It is so sweet of you to offer to remain a resource for her. You are a gem and have made a huge difference in her life...With gratitude, Jan
-Parent of Senior at The Bay School in San Francisco, CA (June 2012)

Dear Andrea,

Thanks so much for all your help with Cory, what you and she have is very special and I could not wish for a better tutor and adviser for her.
-Parent of current Senior at St. Mary's in Berkeley, CA (June 2012)

Just wanted to tell you that I took the GMAT last week and scored a 690! (49 Q 35 V). While that's not a perfect score, I am very pleased with the fact that it's in the 87th percentile. Just thought you'd want to know I did so well, and in a large part thanks to your positive attitude towards studying. I previously loathed standardized tests, and now I see you just have to find a way to tackle them. I've never felt more empowered by "the system." Thank you.
-GMAT student (August 2012)

My daughter Caroline is a full time student at San Francisco Ballet School in level 7. She in enrolled in Laurel Springs Online Private High School. For her first year doing independent study without assistance, she barely scratched the surface of her course work. Caroline has benefited so much by her time spent with Andrea Kay.

In a thorough and thoughtful way, Andrea has taught Caroline detailed lessons in history. She has also helped my daughter develop her writing skills. I plan on hiring Andrea for future courses as well as test preparation.

By nature Andrea is a conscientious young woman who models that behavior so beautifully that it has inspired confidence in Caroline and she looks forward to her classes. More than anything, I will always be grateful to her for that. Caroline, prior to her current studies, dreaded school. She has experienced success with Andrea and now is earning "A's"! Andrea's values and work ethic are impeccable. A better tutor for your child could not be found!
-Parent of San Francisco Ballet School student/Laurel Springs Online Learning (May 2012)

I was so happy to see your email and love the idea of David working with you once again. I know that David needs help in his writing and his reading comprehension skills are in need of some help and I know how much David enjoys working with you.
-Parent of Freshman at St Ignatius, San Francisco, CA

Hi Andrea,

Just wanted to let you know that Elizabeth came home from your session visibly excited -- feeling recognized, challenged, and inspired. We know you are already helping her grow in just the ways we were hoping for. Thank you.
-Parent of Sophomore at The Bay School, San Francisco, CA

Thank you for bridging the gap Ethan had with his teacher and helping him to get his goal score on the SSAT. Ethan got into SI and is ecstatic
-Parent of Freshman at St. Ignatius, San Francisco, CA

Andrea consistently delivered excellent help to our daughter. She came prepared with teaching lessons when Alex didn’t have homework. She got Alex to start a journal, learn vocabulary on her own, read books not assigned by her school, etc. We’re really glad we met Andrea as she made such a positive impact on our child.
-Parent, University High School, San Francisco, CA

Without Andrea’s expert help and dedication to nurturing our daughter to her highest potential, Stephanie would not have gotten into her first choice school, Boston College.
-Parent, St. Francis High School, Mountain View, CA

Andrea not only improved my son’s score by 300 points but helped him to have fun doing it. She always made sure to make time to talk to us after each session so we knew what Paul’s SAT homework was so that nothing slipped through the cracks. We knew she kept a close eye on Paul because one week she said that she would not come back until Paul had finished his homework! She made herself available by phone and email in case Paul was confused when doing his homework and she went over and above in between sessions to make sure Paul was on track.
-Parent, Drew High School, San Francisco, CA